8 Reasons to Stop Dreaming & Start Planning a Round the World Trip

The two most common answers to this question are:

1) Time

2) Money

So let’s tackle those objections one at a time.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle).  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

A Round the World trip means traveling for a year, right?

When you think of a trip around the world, you probably think of the people you’ve seen on YouTube or Instagram. They quit their jobs, sell everything they own, and set off on a year-long adventure or more.

While this is the more traditional “Round the World” (RTW) option, it’s not a practical choice for most of us.

Like those of us with a career we don’t hate. Or family obligations at home.

If you’ve spent your 20’s or 30’s building a successful career, how can you just chuck it all and set sail?

The professional price to pay for a year-long sabbatical could be disastrous.

But there’s another way to see the world…

You don’t have to put off globetrotting adventures until retirement simply because you don’t want to give up your career to travel the world.

You can take that Round the World trip and you can do it on your own terms.

Little known fact: Round the World tickets are surprisingly affordable and allow you to visit multiple destinations, often for little more than a roundtrip ticket to Europe. This means even a round-the-world trip as short as two weeks can be the trip of a lifetime.

The bottom line: The only true requirement for a Round the World trip is a circumnavigation of the globe. How long that takes is entirely up to you.

So stop dreaming and start planning!

Here, my Top 8 Reasons to start planning your Round the World trip now:

1 – World Travel Has Never Been Easier or More Affordable

Consider for a moment that when our grandparents were young and our parents were kids, international air travel was a luxury of the rich.

Comparatively speaking, air travel today has never been cheaper.

Airlines are one of the only major commercial industries whose prices haven’t adjusted for inflation. Until the 1970’s only one airline in the world had a flight longer than 9 hours.

Today, we are lucky enough to live in an age where thousands of flights cross the Atlantic and Pacific each day.

Flight schedules boast nonstop options between most major world cities any day you choose. And with the addition of in-seat entertainment and flatbeds in business class, you can arrive refreshed and ready to explore.

2 – A Round the World Trip is the Most Efficient Way to See the World

Say, for example, you’ve always wanted to see the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall. (I visited all 3 on my 1st Round the World trip).

Imagine the airfare costs and travel time (ugh!) involved in three separate holidays to each of these destinations. You would spend entire days – your hard-earned vacation days – just traveling to and from each one!

Not to mention the cost of 3 separate tickets.

Alternatively, one RTW ticket (likely similar in cost to a roundtrip flight to any of the above) would allow you to see all three world wonders with minimal travel time between.

BONUS: You may even score a stop-over in an incredible connecting city like Paris or Tokyo for free.

If that’s not winning, I don’t know what is.

The beauty of Round the W0rld travel…

Say you plan a trip to Bangkok. Why not hop on a 2-hr flight and visit Malaysia? In another hour you can be in Singapore.

From there, jump on a flight to Sydney. You see where I’m going with this.

When you change your thinking and start looking at travel this way, a round-the-world trip just makes sense.

And there’s simply no better way to tackle your personal Travel Bucket List.

Traveling around the world while making as many stops as your vacation time will allow is by far the most efficient way to see the world.

Need some travel destination inspiration?

Read More: Around the World in 30 Extraordinary Travel Experiences

 3 – You Can Get the Time Off for a Round the World Trip

You may be thinking, “I could never take more than 2 weeks off.“

To this I say, “Have you ever asked to take more than 2 weeks off?“

If there was one silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the work from home revolution. Employers who never would have considered offering remote work options have discovered that “Wait, what’s this?“. IT WORKS.

But what if you only have two weeks of actual vacation time? Perhaps combining that time with unpaid leave or working remotely could be an option.

After all, my motto is: If you can work from home, you can work from Rome!

Don’t want to work while you travel?

A surprising number of companies offer sabbatical leave. Schedule some time with your Human Resources manager to evaluate your options. Your company may surprise you.

The key here is to plan ahead. Way ahead.

In fact, I’d recommend starting the planning process a full year before your anticipated departure. This will give you plenty of time to introduce the idea at your office and plan for your time away.

4 – You Can Afford a Round the World Trip

Cost is by far the single most common reason people think a Round the World trip is out of their reach.

The truth is, you really can do a Round the World trip on almost any budget. You can also travel around the world on just your airline miles and hotel points (if you’ve got them)…but that’s another post!

Read More: How to Use Airline Miles & Hotel Points to Redeem Your Round the World Dream

If you’re on a tight budget, stick to cheaper destinations (think South America and Southeast Asia).

Little Known Fact: Round the World airline tickets are surprisingly affordable.

Don’t believe me? Check out the AirTreks website for a sample of their RTW fares.

The amount of money you decide to spend can vary greatly depending on which countries are on your wish list and, generally speaking, how fancy you are.

I, for example, am somewhat fancy.

I like nice hotels. With soft sheets, fluffy robes, high-speed internet, and a decent wine list. I’m not ashamed to admit that and I’m pretty sure there’s not a 12-step program for it.

I’m a girl. Take me as I am.

With that said, I’ve met plenty of other RTW travelers who operate under no such obligation of fanciness. They are perfectly content to spend $20-$30 a night on a hostel (cut that in half in Southeast Asia).

How much does a Round the World trip cost?

It’s your trip; it’s your budget. No rules, no judgment. Do what makes you happy.

If you’re flexible with your flights and accommodations and stick to less expensive countries, there’s no reason you can’t travel for a month (or longer) on the same amount of money you would spend at home.

5 – It’s OK (in fact, it’s often better) to Travel Solo

I may be biased here but I honestly think doing a Round the World trip solo is one of the most incredible gifts you can ever give to yourself. Nothing expands the mind and frees the spirit like solo travel.

You would be amazed at how many women are out there traveling the world solo. I know, I’ve met them. We are kindred spirits.

Read More: Why Every Woman Should Travel the World Solo (at least once!) & How to Stay Safe Doing It

The beauty of flying solo is simple: you have total control of the itinerary.

The obvious downside is that there’s no one to split the hotel bill with. And you’ll need to get over any inhibitions you may have about eating alone in a restaurant in Hong Kong or being in a resort full of honeymooners in the Maldives.

As a seasoned business traveler, I got over those things a long time ago. So will you, it’s no big deal. (Business travel also made me a pro at traveling light…you can do that, too!)

Read More: How to Travel Around the World with Just a Carry-On: A Girl’s Guide to Traveling Light

I also find that it’s easier to meet people when you’re traveling solo. When traveling with friends, it’s easy to slip into the comfort zone of spending all your time with those you already know.

This is especially true if you’re traveling with a spouse or significant other. Travel is a much richer experience when you get to know the locals.

So, be brave. Embrace your independence. Tackle the world on your own.

6 – You Don’t Have to Take a Month

While I’m a firm believer that one month is the perfect amount of time to feel truly adrift without completely losing touch with reality at home, some people need more and some might be happy with less.

If you can take more than a month for your Round the World trip, fantastic! If you work for one of those employers who will never allow you a full month off, you can still go around the world.

Even with just two weeks, a Round the World trip is well worth the effort. How much can you really see in just two weeks?

Here’s a two-week snippet from the middle of my first Round the World trip:

Cape Town, South Africa – Cairo, Egypt – Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Agra, India – Bangkok, Thailand – Phuket, Thailand – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Here are just a few of the things I did during those two weeks:

• Hiked Cape Town’s Table Mountain
• Took a safari
• Rode a camel around the Pyramids
• Snorkeled in the Red Sea
• Spent a night at the world’s only 7-star hotel in Dubai
• Basked in the glory of the Taj Mahal
• Explored the gleaming temples of Bangkok and the pristine beaches of Phuket
• Visited the Petronas Towers

So what can you see in just two weeks?

More than some people see in their entire lives.

7 – It’s the Perfect Way to Celebrate a Life Milestone

Now that you’ve opened your mind to the idea that a Round the World trip really can be for everyone. How about using your trip to celebrate something truly special?

Perhaps 20 days around the world for a 20th wedding anniversary?  

Or 30 days for a 30th birthday?

Maybe even a RTW Honeymoon? (yep, I did that!)

One ambitious RTWin30days reader is spending two years planning a 50-day trip around the world for her 50th birthday. I dare you to come up with a better way to ring in 50!

8 – You Won’t Ever Regret It

Few things compare to the experience of buying a great big fold-out map of the world and plotting out the trip you’ve always dreamed of.

I will never forget the day I bought mine and started planning the route for my first journey. It was a feeling of nervous excitement and boundless freedom.

Just me, one month ripped from the calendar, and the world.

Looking back, that first trip taught me a number of things. First, how lucky I am to carry an American passport. It’s an all-access pass to see the world and one I will never again take for granted.

Second, I learned that you don’t need a year to take the trip of a lifetime. I saw parts of the world I had only dreamed of, met incredible people, and got a glimpse into the lifestyle of a real world traveler.

And finally, I realized that the time to travel is now. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that life offers no guarantees. So many times I have heard friends say, “Someday I’m going to travel.”

For so many that day never comes. Life – or fate – simply gets in the way.

My someday is now.

Because someday I’ll no longer be able to travel. And when that day comes, I’m comforted by the fact that I’ll always have my memories.

Of riding a camel around the pyramids on a blazing hot Egyptian day. Gritting my teeth in the back of a hurtling, Hindi-music-blaring Indian taxi. The frigid winter morning I had the snow-covered Great Wall all to myself. The blinding, orange sun rising over Angkor Wat.

Setting foot on my 7th continent, Antarctica. 

Of a life lived with travel.

Life is short. Make your own memories. The world awaits.

The above post is an excerpt from my book, The Grown-Up’s Guide to Globetrotting.

Download it now on Amazon and start planning your trip around the world today!